Originally posted by oddoneout
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Good piece by Nick Cohen in The Observer today. "The oldest question in journalism is: are they lying or are they genuinely that stupid?" and the rest …It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world. -
they are it seems - ideology trumps thought in all cases - but don't worry North Korea gets along fine with very little external trade - it is also controlled by a single all powerful guiding hand whereas our head can crack jokes if not actually think things through .Originally posted by french frank View PostLast edited by Frances_iom; 14-02-21, 16:25.Comment
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Powerful piece from Harris, excellent on the local real-life detail as usual....
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The truth is that Thatcher's ideal that letting big businesses go, especially manifacturing, was always mythological - whether or not she or Keith Joseph believed in them. This has constantly been laid bare since being promulgated as a major plank of new conservative thinking in the mid-1970s. Why? Because - notwithstanding the then-current view that the monopolies had become over-hierarchised, over-dominant of markets and too trade unionised - any good right wing economist will tell you that no modern capitalist economy can be re-constructed by handing over to asset strippers, destroying its main economic drivers and starting all over again at level of the small scale entrepreneur. Yet, while this might still seem to be the mythology they continue to espouse, you can bet your bottom dollar (as do they) that their financial accumulations will have been safely tucked away in properties or tax havens, come what may, and the strong state will spring into action to deal with any resulting social unrest, regardless of "costs to the taxpayer".Originally posted by jayne lee wilson View PostComment
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Inevitable really since European languages are obviously not needed post Brexit...
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Remind me. Our membership of Erasmus will continue after Brexit, won't it? But as a student of French (and Spanish), I had NO chance to spend my residency in - Australia!Originally posted by oddoneout View Post
It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.Comment
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My understanding was that as of Jan 1st we are no longer participants in the Erasmus scheme. I hope I'm wrong, but I think that is the case.Originally posted by french frank View PostRemind me. Our membership of Erasmus will continue after Brexit, won't it? But as a student of French (and Spanish), I had NO chance to spend my residency in - Australia!Comment
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That appears to be the conclusion of the Guardian article linked to by oddoneout. Erasmus apparently does not offer 'value for money' - a statement I would like to see supported by a paper of at least 250pp. But I do remember at least one (former) member stating here that Brexit would not affect Erasmus.Originally posted by Roslynmuse View PostIt isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.Comment
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It would have been possible to continue participation in Erasmus+ as a non-member state like Turkey and Norway, but that would have meant continued UK payments into the scheme...Originally posted by french frank View Post
The Turing scheme only funds students, Erasmus is also open to academic staff. The length and nature of the Turing funding to students are not the same as Erasmus which will affect who will benefit. One of my big doubts (over and above the usual reservations about anything this government does!) is that only the first year's funding has been announced, and I suspect that means considerable uncertainty about its continuation - if any.
For some reason thisfrom here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-47293927 reminds me of the M&S adverts (this is not just...etc).It also reads, to me, as if the European universities are not included in "the best" category - I don't know if that was deliberate(plausible given the constant 'EU bad' messaging) but it could also be due to his apparent inability to use the English language effectively.He said leaving Erasmus had been a "tough decision" but that under the new scheme, students would "have the opportunity... not just to go to European universities, but to go to the best universities in the world".Comment
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Not to mention how you define the 'best universities'. 'Best' for what? The point is that if you're studying a modern language for its own sake it doesn't matter if it's at a second division institution for medicine, engineering or physics.Originally posted by oddoneout View Post
Also, the fact that it was 'possible' to continue membership after Brexit was taken as meaning that, of course, we would continue participating.It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.Comment
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Well I don't know that there was clear indication that would not be the case until very late in the day.Originally posted by french frank View Post
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"The evidence suggests that the British were playing a two-level game all along." Yes, quite. But it was one of those subjects where you believed what it suited you to believe. And in any case, a lot of the expressions of "regret" at the loss of Erasmus would be met by a successful Turing project. Just not if you're learning a modern European language. Still perhaps they can strike a triple deal with Switzerland for French, German and Italian students? And the Spanish and Portuguese can go to Argentina and Brazil. I don't see any of this happening, though. The universities will have to rely on their own connections.Originally posted by oddoneout View PostIt isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.Comment
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Well it keeps the lorries off the UK roads...
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As expected Covid-19 is being used as an excuse for ignoring the problems of those in the arts sector needing to work in the EU.
which completely ignores that the person involved here https://www.theguardian.com/politics...pe-post-brexit had done all the necessary Covid checks, in addition to the post Brexit ones.A government spokesman said “Due to the ongoing pandemic, many countries including some EU member states are applying restrictions on entry for British nationals. We advise everyone to check FCDO travel advice for the country they are travelling to before leaving.”Comment
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Well, I think there might have been a chance with wheedler Gove dealing with the EU post brexit. Word is, he's easy about Johnson relieving him of that poisoned chalice (not a lot of upside there...). So Mr "Remember the UK is a sovereign nation" Frost is now going to negotiate post exit matters with the EU.
I weep for our creative industry workers.Comment
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